Automatic scale.



J. L. JENKINS.

AUTOMATIC SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19.1912.

l, 154AO2. Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I. L. JENKINS.

AUTOMATIC SCALE.'

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19.1912.

1,154,402. PatentedSept. 21, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

coLunmm PLANoanAml co.. WASHINGTON. D. c4

J. L. JENKINS.

AUTOMATIC SCALE.

APPLICATION man FEB.19.1912.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

's SHEETS-SHEET s.

.uLuMBlA PLANQURAPH co.. wAsHlNG'roN, D, 1:.

fYUNiTED -sTATEs PATENT oFFioE.

JOHN LOWELLJENKINS, 0F ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT,V ASSIGNOR TO E.'& T. FAIRBANKS & COMPANY, OF ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT, A CORPORATION OF VERMONT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

AUTOMATIC SCALE.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

Application ledFebruary 19, 1912. Serial No. 678,625.

F0 all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that'I, JOHN LOWELL JEN- KINS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at St. J ohnsbury, in the county of Caledonia and State of Vermont, have inventedv certain new and useful Improvements-in Automatic Scales, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic scales, and more particularly to that type of scale in which the material to be weighed automatically controls the operations of the scale.

The invention resides in improved means for temporarily retarding or checking the movement of the weighing beam after a partial movement thereof when the scale is under a load; in the mechanism for overcoming the inertia of the beam upon its initial weighing movement;. in the novel construction and arrangement of the weight for regulating the speed of closing of the cut-off i gate and of the bracket for the weight; and

in the Vmeans for locking the discharge gate of the scale receptacle in either its open or its closedr position.

To this end,they invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of parts, as more fully hereinafter described and particularlyv pointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings,-Figure 1 is an end elevation of a scale embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof; Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged views illustrating certain details of construction; Fig. 6a is a detail view showing the mounting of a tripping lever, which enters into the construction. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of the front end of the scale; Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view.

1 represents the frame of the scale, and 2 the weighing receptacle supported upon the weighingl lever or beam 3, the latter being fulcrumed at 4 upon the frame and having the end 5 thereof passing throug'ha trig loop 6 and carrying the weighted counterpoise 7. Theweighing receptacle as herein shown is divided into two chambers 8 and 9 by the central partition 10, andthe discharge ends of these chambers are controlled bye gate 11 so constructed that when one chamber is closed the other is open.

`12 and 13 are links each having one end pivoted to the gate 11 and the opposite end pivotally connected to an even lever 14 on the receptacle. n Mounted upon the frame above the weighing receptacle is the feed hopper 15, the discharge opening of which is controlled in the usual manner by a swinging cut-off gate 16 having the usual dribble opening (not shown). A lever 18 pivoted upon the stationary frame is normally arranged in the paht of astop 19 on the cut-olif gate so as to arrest the movement of the latter when the gate is in its dribbling position, and a trip is provided for the lever 18 in the form of a member secured to the receptacle and having a loop portion 20 arranged over the outer end of the lever.

21 are crank arms Xedly secured to the shaft 22 carrying the cut-0E gate. These crank arms are connected by means of links 23 to levers 24 pivoted at 25 to the frame 1, and levers 24 are adapted to engage rollers 26 upon the ends of the weighing receptacle.

The speed with which the cut-ofi' gate closes is regulated by a weight 27, the detail construction and arrangement of which will be more fully hereinafter described.

Secured to one end of the discharge gate is a segment 28 having notched shoulders at its opposite ends with which a roller 29 on an arm 30 pivoted to the end of the weighing receptacle is adapted to engage, the construction of the notches and roller being such that the roller will be disengaged from the notches by a load in the receptacle. The roller is normally held in engagement with the notch by a counterweighted bell-crank lever 31 having a curved bearing portion 32 engaging over the roller, and this bell-crank is adapted to berocked so as to disengage the bearing portion 32 from the roller 29 by means of a projection, such as a roller 33, upon an arm 34 dependingfrom a slide 35; 36 is a lever rigidly attached to the slide 35 for shifting the slide so as to move the roller 33 out of operative relation to the lever 31, when it is not desired to automatically discharge the material from the com artments.

The construction so far descri ed is not lVhen the weighing receptacle is empty,`

the levers 24, rest upon the rollers 26, thus transmitting the weight of the cut-oli` gate to the weighing receptacle. Assuming that the discharge gate is in position to close com: partment 8 and that the lever 36 is adjusted for automatic dumping, as shown in full lines in F ig. 1, when the material discharging from the hopper into the chamber 8, together' with the 'weight of the cut off gate, overcomes the weight ofthe counteroise 7, 4the weighing receptacle lowers. The ibwering of the receptacle permits the ,closing o f the cut-off gate until the stop 19 abuts against the end of lever 18, which retards theA cut-ofi' gate in its dribbling "position. Just prior to the engagement of the stop 19 with the lever 18, the rollers will lower away from the levers 2li and relieve the receptacle of thefweight of the cut-off gate. W'hen the desired amount of 'grain has entered ythe compartment through the dribbling opening,y the lreceptacle will vbe lowered sufiiciently to effect the tripping yof lever 18, Apermitting the complete closingfof the lcut-ofi" j ate; substantially simultaneously with tilde closing of the cut-olf gate the bell-crank lever 3l`is rocked through the medium of the roller 33, lallowing the Weight of the grain to actuate the discharge gate 11, thereby openin the lower endV o compartment 8; upon tbe discharge of the grain lthe partsA are automatically restored to their normalposition. l l l I 1As before stated, the cut-off gate isprovided with a weight 27 for varying thespeed of closing thereof. This weight is adjustably mounted upon a bracket 37, which in turn is angularly adjustable in relation to the shaft of the cut-off gate. The bracket 37 is in the shape vof `a U, having one leg elongated, and upon which yis adjnstably sleeved the weight 27. The shorterlegz is securedto a` member e38 rotatively` adjustable about the shaft 22 and held in its di'erent positions of adjustment by a setfscrew`39. T o aidin sealing, an adjustable collar 40 is arranged uponthe shaft 22 adjacent .the member 38, and this collar isprovided with a recess 41 which is engaged by a thumbscrew 42 carried by a lateral projection/i3 of `the member 38. The collar 40 is' also secured to the shaft by means of a setscrew 44. When the weighing receptacle is empty, the weight 27 occupies the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, andv acts to opposefthe closing of the cut-ofi' gate. ,Howeverg 4when the cut-oifgate is nearly closed, theweight acts to assist inthe nalclosing movement. Thus, by adjusting the lweight longitudinelly of the bracket, the 1speed with Vwhich the gate closes may be varied.

It is essential to the successful operation of scales in which the grain 'automatically controls the weighing operation that vibration of the scale parts be prevented. Thus when grainis discharged into the receptacle, since the Wei hin beam is at rest, there is a tendency or t e beam to suddenly rise When the material in the receptacle overcomes the weight of the counter-poise. To

lprevent this objection, means is provided for assisting in the initial upward movement of the scale beam, arranged to become inoperative after the beam has risen to a predetermined point- Asishown, 155s a bracket secured to the scale frame 'having spaced bearings 46 and 47, tliellfatter bearing being carried by an arm 4x8, of 'the bracket.

19 designates a shaft journaled .in the bearing portions, vand a weighted arm adjustably secured tothe outer end of shaft 619.v Arranged upon the latter intermediate tllebearing ortions 4G and 47 is a sleeve 51, which is he ld'in itsadjusted position upon the shaft by means of a lock bolt 52, and serves to preventlengitudinal movement of theshaft inrela'tion to its bearings. Members l53i andy 54 extend laterally from the s leevefi'lilyangular relationto each other, the former carryihga shank 55 having upon its outer end`gin anti-friction roll 56 which is positioned toen age the under side of the counterp'oised eind of the weighing beam, the latter "asmall counterweight 57. rte a1-@fik has a .Screw-threaded engagement with the member 53, and s'locked in "different "positions of ad'ustment by means ofa .n'ut 58, 'he ten ency of the weighted arm 50 is to raise the shank carrying the roller 56, but'the upward movement of the roller Iislimited by a stop 59 carriedbythemember 54 arranged to engage'the 'arm 4 :8 of the bracket, When the scale is empty the rollis in the position shownin full lines in Fig. 7, and during the initial movement of the beam under a load assists inraisingthe'beam. After the latter has moved4 upward to a predetermined positingthe ,stop 59` engagesthearm 48, which permitsltfhe beam to pass out of engagement withthe Iroll, Ias shown in dotted lines in Fig. The roll 56 serves also as a yielding stop,"and tends to retard the downwardI movement of the weighing beam. In order to prevent the stop upon the cutoffgatefromstriki'ngthe endof lever 1 9 with too greatforce`- a momentlnlm arrester is provided lfor the eut-off gate. This m0- mentumlarrester consists of an arm 60 fixed to'the'shaftf22andlhavinga relier '60 at itsy reeendfor engaging the @am ,face 72 of a gravity '.ember j71 pivotally Carried, by a weighted, Ifi'apfklrer, pivote@ Within a surged 62 #mathe .frame One am 63 of t ebell-"cr'ank has its outer end arranged sa f Within a loop 64 of a shank 65, Which has a limited free sliding movement Within a guide 66 upon the frame, a shoulder 67 and a cotter pin 68 serving to limit the movement ofthe shank Within the guide. 69 designates aaveight adjustably mounted upon the arm 63. rPhe other arm of the bellcrank is composed of a bifurcated bracket 70 and the gravity member 7l. pivoted between the bifurcations of the bracket. The member 71 is held against movement in relation to the bracket 70 in the direction in which the arm GO moves during the closing of the cut-off gate by means of a stop 73,

but is free to rock in relation to the bracket in the opposite direction. During the closing of the cut-o gate, the roller engages the incline 79. and rocks the Weighted bell-crank.` When the gate approaches its dribbling position, the outer end of the arm 63 abuts against the top of the loop 64 and raises the shank member, adding the Weight thereof to the arm G3, thereby increasing the retarding action upon the arm G0.. Upon a further movement of the gate toward its closed position, the roller 60 passes over the incline and the bell-crank returns to its normal position. As the gravity member is free to rock in the direction the arm 60 moves during the opening of the cut-off gate, the bell-crank lever is not lifted during the return of the scale parts to their normal relation.

As it is desirable to lock the roller 33 either in or out of operative relation to the bell-crank 31, the lever 36 is provided With a Weighted arm 74 pivoted at 75 to an extension 7 6 of the lever. Then extended, the vveight tends to retain the slide at its outer limits of adjustment, in Which relation the roll 33 is out of the path. of the bell-crank 3l. In the folded position of the Weighted arm 74, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the

weight holds the slide in position for th@ roll 33 to engage the lever 31, so as to eect the automatic tripping of the discharge gate. Thel Weighted arm 74 is provided with a lug 77 adapted to engage the lever for limiting the folding movement thereof in relation to the lever, While the connection between the Weighted arm and the extension 7 6 is such as to limit the relative movement between the members When the Weight is extended.

IVhat I claim as my invention is,--

l. In a scale, the combination with the frame and the scale beam, of a bracket upon the frame, a shaft journaled in the bracket, an arm fixed to the shaft, a roll upon the arm engaging the beam, a Weight attached to the shaft, and a stop carried by the shaft adapted to engage the bracket, for the purpose described.

2. In a scale, the combination with the frame and a scale beam, of a bracket, a

shaft journaled in said bracket, a sleeve upon the shaft having arms extending transversely therefrom and angularly in relation to each other, a roll upon one arm for engaging the beam, a counterweight carried by 1 the other arm, a Weight fixed tothe shaft, and a stop carried by the sleeve adapted to engage the bracket, for the purpose described.

3. In an automatic scale, the combination With a cut-off gate, of a shaft by which said gate is pivotally suspended, a collar and a bracket arranged upon the shaft, a Weight carried by said bracket, and a connection between the bracket and the collar.

4. In an automatic scale, the combination with a cut-off gate, of a shaft by which said gate is pivotally suspended, a collar and a bracket arranged upon the shaft, said bracket having an arm connected to the collar, and a Weight carried by said bracket..

5. In an automatic scale, the combination with a cut-off gate, of a shaft by Which said gate is pivotally suspended, a collar and a bracket arranged upon the shaft, said ybracket having a transversely extending portion, a connection between said portion and the collar, and a Weight carried by said bracket.

6. In an automatic scale, the combination With a cut-off gate, of a shaft by Which said gate is pivotally suspended, and a U-shaped bracket having one leg operatively connected to the shaft, and a Weight upon the other leg of the bracket.

7. In an automatic scale, the combination With a cut-off gate, of a shaft by which said gate is pivotally suspended, a collar, a U- shaped bracket having one leg operatively connected to the shaft and to said collar, and a Weight upon the other leg of the bracket.

8. In an automatic Weighing scale, the combination with the receptacle having two compartments, of a gate for the discharge end of the receptacle adapted to alternately open and close the chambers, a member con` nected to the gate having shoulders, a pawl engaging said shoulders alternately, a lever for holding the paivl in engagement with said shoulders, a stop, an actuating lever for moving said stop into and out of operative relation to said first-mentioned lever, and a Weighted extension pivoted to said actuating lever, acting to retain the lever in its different positions of adjustment.

9. In a scale, the combination with a stationary hopper, of a moving cut-off gate therefor, means operating after the initial closing movement of the gate for retarding the closing thereof.

10. In a scale, the combination With a stationary hopper of a moving cut-off gate therefor, and means operating after the initial closin movement of the gate for yieldably reta-r ing the closing thereof.

11. In a scale, the combination with the cut-off gate andthe shaft by which itis pivotally suspended, of an arm fixed to the shaft, and means engaging said arm for retarding the movement thereof.

12. In a scale, the combination with the cut-off gate and the shaft by Which it is pivotally suspended, of a Weighted member mounted for rocking movement, and means movable with the gate positionedto engage said Weighted lever, for the purpose described. v

13. In a scale, the combination with the cut-oil gate and the shaft by Which it is pivetally suspended, of an arm fixed to the shaft, and a bell-crank lever carrying an inclined surface arran ed in the path of said arm, for the purpose escribed. Y

141-. 1n a scale, the combination with the cut-orf gate andthe vshaft by ivhich it pivotally suspended, of an arm fixed to the shaft, and a pivoted bell-crank Ilever, one arm of said bell-crank being provided with a member having an inclined surface positioned in the path of said arm, said member being held against movement in one direction but free to rock in the opposite direction, for the purpose described.

V 15. In a scale, the combination with the cut-off gate, of means for retarding the closingthereof, and means for increasing the retarding action upon the gate when the latter approaches its closed position.

16. In a scale, the combination with the cut-ofi1 gate, of a bell-crank lever carrying an inclined surface upon one arm and a Weight upon the other, a projection mounted to move with said gate positioned to engage said incline, and adapted to rock said lever, and a Weight added to said lever after a partial movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN LOVELL JENKINS.

Witnesses: i

R. M. STENsoN, E. B. HARRINGTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained fornire cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents. Washington. c.

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